freaked out-no nitrites

[Erynn]

I posted a little while ago about how I have daily rising ammonia and no sign of nitrites. Well one week later I still have NO nitrites....they are at 0 and I have super high ammonia! I have to do one or two water changes every day to keep it at at least .5. If I leave it for a day or two it gets really really high.

This tank has been cycling for about a month now, it is a 10 gallon with four zebra danios. It has one fake plant from an established tank and a nylon with gravel in it from that established tank tied at the top in one corner (lots of it). I feed them once a day in the evening.....used to be twice a day but because of rising ammonia I have stopped doing it twice.

I have been keeping fish for about 10 years now so I am aware of how to cycle tanks and how to feed fish properly. I have 3 other tanks that cycled no problem. If anyone has ANY idea what the heck could be going on PLEASE post!!!!!!! I'm worried about my four little fish in there! They all seem very happy and healthy but I am afraid to miss one water change!!!

THANKS!
PS - Is it possible to skip the nitrite spike????

 

[wetmanNY]

My guess is that your water is disinfected with chloramines rather than chlorine. Your water changes are introducing the NH3.

Such minimal seeding as a single artificial plant and a bag of gravel hung away from the filter may take longer than everage to cycle.

Fear not! All tanks cycle.

Why no plants? Portland has soft water, doesn't it? Planted tanks cycle effortlessly.

 

[Randy]

If your from the same mississauga that i am from, i just double checked with our water treatment plant and it is chlorine thats being used to treat our water, this is what is posted on there website anyway. So if this is the case i would not be worried about introducing ammonia to the tank with your water changes.